Cuts Both Ways

Cuts Both Ways
Studio album by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
Released	July 5, 1989 (1989-07-05) (see release history)
Recorded	1988—1989, Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida
Genre	Pop
Length	49:29
Label	Epic EK-45217 Sony Music
Producer	Emilio Estefan, Jr., Jorge Casas, Clay Ostwald
Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine chronology
Let It Loose (1987) Cuts Both Ways (1989) Exitos De Gloria Estefan (1990)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	C[2]

Cuts Both Ways is Gloria Estefan's 11th album, and final album with Miami Sound Machine, as they would disband after its release. Although Estefan's name is on the front cover, on the spine of some of the album's pressings on cassette and vinyl, it credits Estefan and Miami Sound Machine (as with the previous album, Let It Loose).

In some Spanish-speaking territories, the album was titled Doblemente Herida.

History

By 1989, Gloria Estefan was one of the most successful female Latin artists in the world. After a decade of being the lead singer of Miami Sound Machine, she had been credited above the group name (Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine) on their 1987 album Let It Loose. With the release of Cuts Both Ways, it was widely believed that Estefan had gone solo, but Miami Sound Machine continued to perform as her backing band in the studio and on tour (however, the only original member of MSM to play on the album besides Estefan was her husband/producer, Emilio).

The album contains dance music, Latin rhythms and ballads. It has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, reaching the Top Ten on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, and peaking at #1 in the UK, Belgium, Australia, and Ireland.

The first single from the album was "Don't Wanna Lose You", which became one of Estefan's biggest hits, reaching #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (her second U.S. number one) and was certified Gold by the RIAA. It also reached the Top Ten in The Netherlands, Ireland, Brazil and the UK. Other singles from this album included "Here We Are", another big hit for Estefan and one of her signature songs, "Oye mi Canto", a huge hit in Europe but ignored in USA,'Get on your feet', another signature song and huge hit,and finally the title track, which didn't make so strong impact on the charts as the previous singles.

The artists Betty Wright and Jon Secada were backing vocalist for the album, and also both appeared on Estefan's next album, 1991's Into the Light.

Track listing

• All Songs Copyright Foreign Imported Productions & Publishing, except tracks 2, 6 & 8 (Copyright) Foreign Imported Productions & Publishing/Estefan Enterprises)

1. "Ay, Ay, I" (Gloria Estefan) – 3:49
2. "Here We Are" (Gloria Estefan) – 4:51
3. "Say" (Jon Secada, Duncan) – 3:41
4. "Think About You Now" (Jorge Casas) – 4:20
5. "Nothin’ New" (Gloria Estefan) – 3:50
6. "Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice) (English Version)" (Gloria Estefan, Jorge Casas, Clay Ostwald) – 4:52
7. "Don't Wanna Lose You" (Gloria Estefan) – 4:12
8. "Get on Your Feet" (John De Faria, Jorge Casas, Clay Ostwald) – 3:38
9. "Your Love Is Bad for Me" (Gloria Estefan) – 3:50
10. "Cuts Both Ways" (Gloria Estefan) – 3:16
11. "Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice) (Spanish Version)" (Gloria Estefan, Jorge Casas, Clay Ostwald) – 4:58
12. "Si Voy a Perderte" (Gloria Estefan) – 4:07
13. "Ay, Ay I (Extended Mix)" (Gloria Estefan) – 6:05 Japanese bonus track

^[3]

Personnel

Miami Sound Machine

• Gloria Estefan: Main Vocal, Vocal Backing
• Randy Barlow: Trumpet, Vocal Backing
• Teddy Mulet: Trumpet, Trombone, Vocal Backing
• Jorge Casas: Electric & Fretless Bass, Acoustic Guitars, Programming, Vocal Backing
• Mike Scaglione: Saxophone
• Clay Ostwald: Synthesizers, Piano, Synclavier Programming
• John De Faria: Electric & Acoustic Guitars
• Robert Rodriguez: Drums
• Rafael Padilla: Percussion
• Horns on "Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Song)" & Oye Mi Canto (Spanish Version)" arranged by Teddy Mulet, Gloria Estefan, Jorge Casas & Clay Ostwald

Additional musicians

• Jon Secada: Vocal Backing
• Paquito Hechevarria: Piano
• Paco Fonta: Acoustic Guitars
• Michael Thompson: Electric Guitars
• Emilio Estefan Jr.: Congas
• John Slick: Additional Synclavier Programming

Production

• Arranged by Gloria Estefan (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 11 & 12), Jorge Casas (all tracks), Clay Ostwald (all tracks), John De Faria (track 8), Scott Shapiro (track 5), John Haag (track 5), Tom McWilliams (track 5) & Efrain Enriquez (track 9)
• Produced by Emilio Estefan, Clay Ostwald & Jorge Casas for Estefan Enterprises, Inc.
• Recorded by Eric Schilling; assisted by John Haag & Ted Stein; additional assistants: Dana Horowitz, Steve Whaley & Roger Hughes
• Mixed by Eric Schilling, except "Don't Wanna Lose You" (mixed by Humberto Gatica; assisted by Greg Laney & Mauricio Guerrero), "Here We Are" & "Cuts Both Ways" (mixed by Phil Ramone & Eric Schilling; assisted by Carlos Nieto) & "Oye Mi Canto" (additional mixing by John Haag)
• Recorded & Mixed by Criteria Studios (Miami, Florida)
• Mastered by Bob Ludwig

Design

• Art direction: Nancy Donald, David Coleman
• Photography: Randee St. Nicholas
• Gloria Estefan’s Hair & Makeup: Eric Bernard
• Band Hair & Makeup: Samy
• Wardrobe: Vivian Turner

Singles

• "Don't Wanna Lose You"
• "Get on Your Feet"
• "Here We Are"
• "Oye mi Canto (Hear my Voice)"
• "Cuts Both Ways"
• "Si Voy a Perderte" (released in Mexico instead of "Don't Wanna Lose You")
• "Se Tenho que te Perder" (released in Brazil instead of "Don't Wanna Lose You")
• "Toda pra Você" (released in Brazil instead of "Here We Are")

Release history

Charts and certifications

Chart succession

References